HRD may reach out to President for Manipur varsity vice-chancellor’s longer leave

ET Bureau|

Sep 05, 2018, 06.53 AM IST

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ET has learnt that Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh has also conveyed that it is necessary to send the V-C on leave.

New Delhi |Guwahati:With tension flaring up at Manipur University again after vice-chancellor Adya Prasad Pandey returned to work this month and promptly banned student and staff associations, the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry is seriously considering seeking President’s approval to send Pandey on a longer compulsory leave.

The ministry on Tuesday held discussions to consider various options to defuse the situation on the campus, which has been shut since May 30. It opened only on August 22 when the V-C was on leave but his return this month has triggered a fresh crisis.

Since the President is visitor to all the central universities his sanction would be necessary. The ministry is seriously considering sending the V-C on a longer leave till peace returns to the campus. The ministry may even consider Pandey’s removal if things remain unchanged.

Pandey, the former HoD of Economics at BHU,was appointed V-C of Manipur University in October 2016. While there would be rare precedents of V-Cs being compulsorily sent on leave or removed pending an inquiry, law and order concerns in the insurgency-hit state may warrant this action.

ET has learnt that Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh has also conveyed that it is necessary to send the V-C on leave.

The V-C has also moved court. Pandey told ET that he had filed a petition in the court requesting all assistance to ensure smooth functioning of the university and safety of students and staff.

He has also alleged that the state was not cooperating with him to restore peace on campus and that he was facing with dire threats and extortion.